Gewirtz Awarded Grant to Study Genetics and Opioid Addiction

Jonathan Gewirtz, PhD, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, was awarded a grant of $3,065,405 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. His study, “Identifying genomic loci related to vulnerability to opioid addiction,” will run from 08/01/2020 to 05/31/2025. Through this project, Gewirtz plans to identify genes and regulators of gene transcription in rats involved in 3 behavioral phenotypes (observable characteristics that are more prevalent in those with a specific genetic makeup) associated with distinct stages along the trajectory of opioid use disorder, from initial to compulsive drug use.


Composed by Flora Pollack, communications assistant.